Rotary engine.



PATBNTED 00T. 3o, 190s.-

ysgLACH. ROTARY ENGINE. y APPLICATION FILED AUG. 13, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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lllll y No. 834.675.-

PATENTED OG T. 30, 1 906. S. LACH. ROTARY ENGINE. vAPILIU.^.'1I0N FILEDAUG. 1a, 190e.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1H: Nolmls PETERS C0.. wAsNlNcfoN. D. c.

- PATBNTBD 00T. 3o', 1906.

s. LAoH. ROTARY ENGINE. n APPLIUATIOR FILED AUQ. 13, 190.

4 SHEETS-SHEETS.

' "lill/minimum No. 834,675. f I PATBNTED 00T. so, 1906.l

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'A UNITED sTATns PATENT onincn.

STEFAN LAC-H, OF ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA.

rFioTAaY ENGINE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

.Patented oel-f 30., 190.6-,

Application led August 13, 1906'. Serial No. 330.355.

useful improvements in rotary engines; and

the invention has for its primary object to provide an engine from whicha greater efficiency is obtained than engines of a reciprocatory type.

Another object of this invention is to pro-` yvide an equally-balancedengine which 'will be positive in its action, simple in construction,and free from injury by ordinary use.

My invention aims to provide an engine from which a maximum amount ofener y can be obtained from a minimum expen iture of fuel, this beingaccom lished by dispensing with fly or balance wl eels and with anyfriction that may eXist between the operatin or movable parts of theengine.

Wit the above and -other objects in view, which will more readily appearas the invention is understood, the invention consists in the novelconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts, to be presentlydescribed in detail and then specifically pointed out` in the appendedclaims.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specification, likenumerals ofreference designate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views, in which- Figure 1 ils a sideelevation of my improvedengine. Fig. 2 is an end view of the engine. Fig. 3 is-a similar view,the forward end of the cylinder being removed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsectional view. of the engine. Fig. 5yis avertical sectional view of aninlet-slidevalve mechanism, illustrating the valvefin a closed position,Fig. 6 is asimilar view illustratingl the valve in an open position.Fig. 7 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of a portion of thecylinder of my engine, illustrating a cylinder-partition. Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the piston of the engine. Fig. 9 is a sectional viewof the piston proper. Fig. 10 is a plan of -a packing-ring. Fig. 11 is adetail perspective view of a portion of the same, Fig.l 12 is aperspective view of `a valve and Vpartition.-actuating wheel, partlybroken away. Fig. 13 is an elevation of a camfwheel-actuated mechanismwhich can be used in lieu of the wheel illustrated in Fig. 12, and Fig.14 isa plan of the same.

To put my invention into practice, Icone. struct my improvedrotaryengine. of a suit-4 able foundation-plate 1, upon the forward endof which are mounted two blocksg, adapted to sup ort the cylinder 3 ofmy engine,

said cylin er and blocks being secured to the foundation-plate 1 bybolts and nuts 4. Upon the rear end of the plate 1 is mounted a bearing5, and in said bearing is journaled a shaft 6, which extends through thecenter of the cylinder 3. Mounted upon the shaft @intermediate thebearing' and the cylinder 3, is a valve and partition-actuating wheel 7,

the detail construction of which will be presently described. l

Reference will now be had to the c lnder 3. This c linder consists oftwo halves or parts 8 an 9, which are circular in elevation and areadapted to fit snugly together. The confronting faces of the parts 8 and9 are prof vided with peripheral flanges 10, adapted to be securedtogether by bolts and nuts 1 1, and

are formed with central recesses 12, circurn-y ferentially arrangedpacking-grooves 14, and cylinder-grooves 15 and 16, the recesses andgrooves of the part 8 confronting the recesses andgrooves of the part 9.The art 8 sur: rounding the groove 16 is provi ed with a groove 17 toreteive a circumferentiallyar.- ranged tongue-18, carried by the par-t9, thus insuring a tight and non-leakable connection between the partsof the cylinder.

The confronting faces of the parts 8 and 9 between the recesses 12andthe'grooves 15 and 16 are machined` to form bearingsurfaces 19 for apiston-disk 20, which is keyedu'on the shaft 6 within the recesses 12 bya l ey 21 and is further locked thereon bynuts 22,-

threaded upon the Shaft 6. The pistoni-disk 20 ad'acent to the nuts 22is rovided with a plurality of openings 23. to a low a lubricant placedin the recesses 12 through thek opening A24 of the part 9to pass intothe recess 12,

formed in the part 8. The opening24 can be'provided with a suitablepipe- 25 to convel lubricating-oils tosaid opening,

he piston-disk v20 is ,provided with la curved cylindrical piston 26,having packingrngs 2.7; of a conventional form. Thepiston 26 is radiallydisposed with relation-.to the shaft Grains of the disk 20 and isadapted te Y roo travel in the confronting cylinder-grooves 15 and 16.

In the packing-grooves 14 of the parts 8 and 9 of the cylinder aremounted packingrings 28, having overlapping ends 29. To retain the rings28 in engagement with the piston-disk 20, I provide the parts 8 and 9with transverse openings 30, in which springs 31 are mounted to bearagainst the rings, said springs being adjusted and held in position byscrew-bolts 32.

Mounted upon the top of the part 9 is a cock 33, carrying a lubricantreceptacle or cup 34. The cup communicates with the groove 15 by a port35, and the cock 33 is adapted to control the passage of a lubricant tosaid groove.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6, wherein I have illustrated thesteam-inlet valve, it will be observed that I mount said valve upon thepart 8 of the cylinder. This part of the cylinder is provided with aninclined inlet-port 36, in the outer end of which is mounted a pipe 37,carrying a valve-casing 38, having a steam-inlet pipe 39, which iscontrolled by a valve 39. In the casing 38 is detachably mounted aslide-valve 40, adapted to close the upper end of the pipe 37. The stem41 of the valve 40 protrudes through a stuffing-box 42 and has its outerend provided with a cap 43, carrying a rollerbearing 44. Between the cap43 and the stuffing-box 42 is mounted a coiled spring 45, which normallyholds the slide-valve 40 in an open position.

The exhaust of the cylinder 3 passes through a port 46, formed in theport 8 in close proximity to the inlet-port 36, said port being arrangedat approximately an angle of ninety degrees from the port 36. The port46 communicates with an exhaust-pipe 47.

Slidably mounted in the cylinder 3 between the ports 36 and 46 is anoblong partition 48, said partition sliding in grooves 49, formed in thecylinder 3, and in diametrically-o posed casings 50 and 51, providedthere or. f The forward end of the partition 48 is provided with anopening 52 of a diameter equivalent to the piston 26. The lower edge ofthe partition is slotted, as at 53, to permit of the edge of the disk 20and the piston 26 passing through the partition. The rear end of thepartition carries a stem 54, which protrudes through a stuffing-box 55,carried by the casing 51, and is provided with a cap 56, roller-bearing57, and spring 5 8, similar to the stem 41, previously described. v Thepartition is normally held in its seat by a spring 59, mountedin thecasing 5 and rbearing upon the top of the partition.

p To actuate theslide-valve 40 and partition 48, I use the wheel 7, theone side of which is provided with two irregular paths or cams 60 and61, the cam 60 being arranged within the cam 61 and reciprocating thestem 54 of the partition 48, while the cam 61 reciprocates the stem 41of the slide-valve 40.

The operation of my improved engine is as follows: Assuming the slide 40is in an open position and the cylinder is receiving steam through theport 36, the piston 26 will be forced around in the grooves 15 and 16toward the exhaust-port 46. As the piston 26 travels over this port theslide-valve 40 is closed by the cam 61 and the steam exhausts throughthe port 46. Immediately upon the piston 26 leaving the port 46 thepartition is opened by the cam 60 releasing the stem 54. By opening thepartition I mean the partition is moved rearwardly, whereby the piston26 can pass through the opening 52 of said partition, and when in aclosed position the partition, in conjunction with the piston 26,divides the cylinder 3 into two compartments. After the piston 26 haspassed through the opening 52 of the partition and is passing over theinlet-port 36 the partition is closed by the cam 60. When the piston hastraveled over the port 36, said port is opened by the cam 61 engagingthe stem 41 and moving the valve 40 to an open position. Steam isadmitted to the cylinder in the rear of the piston 26 and drives thesaine toward the port 46. The above operation is continuous until thesteam-supply is shut off by the valve 39.

In'Figs. 13 and 14 I have illustrated certain modifications adapted tobe used in lieu of the cam-wheel 7 should it be found expedient andsaving to do so when the engine is being used to perform certain workwhere the wheel 7 might be cumbersome and im practical. The modificationconsists in prolonging the forward end of the shaft 6, as at 62, andproviding it with a beveled gear-Wheel 63. The foundation-plate 1 isthen lengthened to support .bearings 64 for a transversely-arrangedshaft 65, which carries a beveled gear 66, meshing with the gear-wheel63.

Mounted contiguous to the bearings 64 are bearings 67, in which isjournaled a sleeye 68, having a rod 69 loosely mounted therein, the oneend of said rod protruding beyond the end of the sleeve 68. Upon theprotruding end of the rod is adjustably mounted a bellcrank lever 70,while upon the sleeve 68, at the opposite end of the rod 69, isadjustably mounted a bell-crank lever 71. The longer arms 72 of saidlevers are provided with rollers 73, adapted to engage in cam-Wheels 74,fixed upon the 'ends of the shaft 65. The shorter arms 76 of the levers70 and 71 are connected by links 77 to the stems 78, which move theslide-valve and partition mounted in the casings 79 of the engine.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that I have devised anovel engine. I have found by actual tests that the ability of my engineunder severe and unusual condi- IOO TIO

f when considering the expenditure of fuel with relation -tothe amountof work accomplished.

I do` not care to confine myself to a simple engine, as the cylinderscan be compounded. Such other changesA inthe-i arrangement and detailsof construction as are permissible' by the appended claims may beresortedl tol without departing from the spirit and scopeof theinvention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary engine, the combination with a foundation-plate, of acylindersupported by said plate, said cylinder comprising two partshaving confronting circumferentially-arranged grooves formed therein, ashaft journaled upon said plate and extending centrally through saidcylinder, a pistondisk mounted upon said shaft and adapted to travelbetween said parts, a piston carried by said disk and adapted totravelin said grooves, adjustable packing-rings mounted in said'cylinderand engaging said disk, said cylinder having an inlet-port formedtherein communicating with said grooves, a springheld slide-valvecontrolling said port, said cylinder having an exhaust-port formedtherein, a reciprocating partition mounted in said cylinder and havingan opening in its vend throu h which said piston passes, and acam-wheeImounted upon said shaft and operating said valve and saidpartition, substantially as described.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination with a foundation-plate, of acylinder supported bysaid plate, said cylinder comprising two partshaving confronting circumferentially-arranged grooves formed therein, ashaft journaled upon said plate and extending centrally through saidcylinder, a pistondisk mounted upon said shaft and adapted to travelbetween said parts, a pistoncarried by said disk and adapted to travelin said grooves, adjustable packing-rings mounted in said cylinder andengaging said disk, said cylinder having an inletort formed thereincommunicating with sai grooves, a springheld slide-valve vcontrollingsaid port, said cylinder having an exhaust-port formed therein, areciprocating partition mounted in said cylinder and having an openingin its end through. which said piston passes, and means carried by saidshaft to move said slide-valveand said partition, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a rotary engine, the combinationwith a foundation-plate, of acylinder supported by said plate, said cylinder comprising two partshaving confronting circumferentially-arranged groovesformed therein, ashaft journaled upon said plate, and extending through said cylinder, apiston carried by said shaft and adapted to travel in said grooves, saidcylinder having an inlet-port formed therein communicating with saidgrooves, a spring-held slide-valvecontrolling saidport, said cylinderhaving an exhaustport formed therein, a reciprocating partition mountedin said cylinder between said ports and having an opening in its endthrough which said piston passes, and means carried by said shaft tomove said slide-valve and said partition, substantially as described.

4. In a rotary engine, the combination with a suitable foundation-plate,of a cylinder supported by one end of said plate, a bearing mounted atthe opposite end of said plate, a shaft j ournaled in said bearing andsaid cylinder, a piston carried by said shaft and adapted to revolve insaid cylinder, a reciprocating partition mounted in said cylinder andhaving an opening formed therein through which said piston passes, saidcylinder having an exhaust-port formed therein, said cylinder having aninlet-port formed therein, a slide-valve mounted. in said cylinder andcontrolling said inlet-port, a wheel mounted upon said shaft andoperating said valve and said partition, substantially as described. y

5. In a rotary engine, the combination with a foundation-plate, of acylinder supported by said plate, a shaft journaled in said cylinder, apiston carried by said shaft and adapted to revolve in said cylinder,said cylinder having an inlet-port formed therein, a spring-held valvecontrolling said port, said cylinderl having an exhaust-port formedtherein, a reciprocating artition mounted between said ports and avingan opening formed in its one end through which said piston passes, and acam-wheel mounted upon said shaft and adapted to operate said slidevalveand said partition, substantially as described.

6. A rotaryy engine consisting of a twoart cylinder, the parts of saidcylinder aving confronting circumferentially-arranged grooves formedtherein, inlet and exhaust ports communicating with said grooves, aspring-held slide-valve controlling the inletport, 'a shaft journaled insaid cylinder, a piston-disk carried by said shaft, a piston carried bysaid disk and ada ted to travel in said grooves, adjustable pac'ng-rings mounted in said cylinder and engaging said disk, a

Areciprocating partition mounted in said cylinder between said ports andhaving an opening formed therein through which said piston is adaptedtopass, and means actuated by said shaft to operate said slide-valve andsaid partition-valve, and said partition, substantially as described.

7 A rotary engine consisting of a two-part cylinder havingcircumferentially-arranged confronting grooves formed therein, inlet jand exhaust ports communicating with said IOO IOO

E eating partition mounted in said cylinder begrooves, a shaft journaledin said cylinder, a tuated by said shaft to open and close said 1opiston carried by said shaft yand adapted to partition, substantially asdescribed.

travel in said grooves, a spring-held slide- In testimony whereof Iailix my signature valve controlling said inlet-port, a reeiproin thepresence of two witnesses.

tween the inlet and exhaust ports and having t STEFAN LACH' an openingthrough which said piston is Witnesses: adapted to pass, means actuatedby said MAX H. SRoLovITZ, shaft to move said slide-valve, and means aclA. J. TRIGG.

